Strap buckle



April 14, 1953 F, A, RAY 2,634,480

STRAP BUCKLE Filed July 24, 1950 Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAP BUCKLE Fredric A. Ray, Reseda, Calif.

Application July 24, 1950, Serial No. 175,551

1 claim. 1

My invention relates to buckles of the hinged box type and which are associated with straps used for various purposes; for instance, belts, stirrup leather straps and the like, and the principal objects of my invention are, to provide a simple, compact and highly effective buckle comprising two parts hinged to each other, with one part carrying one or more fixed tongues or studs which, when the buckle is closed, engages in apertures in the other part so as to provide an exceptionally strong and at the same time a readily releasable connection between two straps or the end portions of a single strap.

A further object of my invention is to provide a keeper which combines with the improved buckle in holding the connected straps in compact connected position, and which keeper is formed separately from the buckle, in order that it may be readily adjusted toward or away fromA same to meet different conditions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved buckle and keeper in position upon a strap.

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the two parts of my improved buckle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the keeper.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the connected portions of a strap with my improved buckle and keeper in position thereupon.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 'I-l of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 8, and showing a modied form of the keeper.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, I 6 and II designate respectively the over and underlying portions of a strap such as a trousers belt or the stirrup leather of a saddle, and secured, preferably by rivets I2, to the inner or under face of strap portion II at the end thereof, is a plate I3, from the end of which project at right angles, ears I4, provided in their upper portions with apertures I5. The upper edge of plate I3 occupies a horizontal plane between ears I4, just below the apertures I5 therein and formed through said plate just below said upper edge are apertures I6.

A plate I1 lies across the front face of strap portion I 6 and projecting at right angles from the ends of said plate are ears I8, provided with apertures I9 for the reception of hinge pins 20, which also pass through the apertures I5 in ears I4, thus hinging buckle part I'I to part I3.

Seated in the lower portion of plate Il are studs or pins 2 I, which function as buckle tongues 'and when the buckle is closed on straps or strap parts, as seen in Figs. 6 and '7, these studs pass through the apertures I6 in plate I3, thus reinforcing the buckle against any tendency of the parts thereof to separate due to abnormal strains impressed lengthwise on the strap or straps.

Studs 2I pass through apertures 22 spaced longitudinally in strap I0, and when the buckle is closed said studs pass directly above the upper end of strap I I (see Fig. 6).

I have shown the apertures 22 arranged in pairs; but, in narrow straps, for instance, trousers belts, only a single row of such apertures and a single stud or tongue 2I is required.

To open the buckle for release and/or adjustment of strap portion I0, it is only necessary to swing plate I'I carrying studs 2I outwardly and upwardly from plate I3, thus withdrawing studs on tongues 2I from the apertures I9 in strap I0 (see Fig. 5).

The lowered upper edge of plate I3 enables the latter to freely swing upward and outward When the buckle is opened.

The keeper for the end portion of the strap beyond the buckle comprises a narrow rectangular loop 23, adapted to pass around straps I0 and II and projecting from the inner face of one of the side walls of said loop are studs 25, which engage in the apertures 22. Thus, the keeper may be readily adjusted on strap I I so as to maintain the portion of strap I0, beyond the buckle, against said strap I I.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a keeper or loop 26 with a single stud 2l designed for use on straps having the stud-receiving apertures 22 formed in a single row.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a strap buckle and keeper which is simple and compact in structure, inexpensive of manufacture, capable of being readily opened. closed and adjusted and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The two studs 2I rigidly seated in plate I1. passing at right angles through strap IIl and fitting snugly in the apertures I6 in plate I3, provide a very strong and rigid two point connection and bearing between the two parts of the buckle and strap, or strap portion I0, thus adding materially to the service efficiency of the buckle.

Minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved strap buckle and keeper may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope o'f which isset forth inthe appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a strap buckle, a plate, ears projecting at right angles from the ends of said plate, said ears being extended beyond said plate and said Vextensions being perforated, a strap permanently secured to the lower portion of the inner face of said plate, there being aperturesiormed insaid plate just above the end of said strap, a second plate, ears on the ends thereof, which ears extend beyond the upper edge of said second men- .tioned gplate, lsaid ears being perforated, hinge ;pins seatedn .thelapertures in saidvpairs of ears,

4 and pins projecting from said second mentioned plate for engagement in the apertures in said first mentioned plate just above said strap when said plates are closed.

FREDRIC A. RAY.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 34,801 Cole July 16, 1901 312,679 Wagner Feb. 24, 1885 680,370 Bergman et al Aug. 13, 1901 857,864 Bowyer June 25, 1907 1,127,727 Budge Feb. 9, 1915 .1,191,279 Clark July 18, 1916 1,511,665 Faulkner Oct. 14, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 838,311 France Dec. 7, 1938 

